Bacterial infection on the rise

May 11, 2007|By Bob LaMendola Staff Writer

An advisory two months ago didn't do the trick, so the Broward County Health Department issued a second one Thursday warning parents about a stomach bacteria running through schools and day care centers.

More than 134 people, most of them school-age children, have been diagnosed this year with the highly contagious but fairly benign infection shigellosis, which is almost twice the number of cases reported last year, health officials said.

The size of the outbreak doubled since the first advisory in March, prompting the health department to send home a letter this week through Broward County schools. Children with diagnosed infections will be kept out of school until their symptoms subside and they test negative.

"The problem is still there and we need to alert parents," said Candy Sims, a department spokeswoman. "We are trying to get out more information so people can prevent it."

Shigellosis is caused by the shigella bacteria, which passes from victim to victim through fecal-oral contamination, usually on the hands or uncooked food.

The best defense against the bacteria is washing the hands often, and with soap, especially after using the bathroom. Parents also should be careful to disinfect diaper-changing areas

Infections typically last no more than a few days and involve diarrhea, fever, nausea and cramps. More than 1,300 people in Florida and 18,000 nationally are infected every year, although health officials said the real number could be 450,000.

As of last week, 660 in Florida had been stricken, compared to 286 in the same period last year.

Bob LaMendola can be reached at blamendola@sun-sentinel.com or 954-356-4526.

Shigellosis

What: Infection by the stomach bacteria shigella. Affects about 18,000 in the nation and 1,350 in the state per year, many of them children.